You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

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Adam N @RT93209334 Jun 13 As my first film exposure to the talented W. C. Fields, "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" left me surprised at its quality. The banter between Fields and ventriloquist puppet Charlie McCarthy is a treat to see on screen, and the way everyone treats Charlie and his backwoods cousin Mortimer Snerd as real people is pleasingly Muppety in nature. This film is also among the few exceptions to Roger Ebert's "balloon rule" in that it is still a well-made film despite the inclusion of a hot air balloon, which fits into the plot (of which this movie unfortunately does not have much of, hence the removal of one star) surprisingly well. Highlights include the scene in which Charlie, Mortimer, and Edgar Bergen are stuck in said balloon, as well as Fields' exhilarating ping-pong match. Overall, a pleasant comedy and a rare gem nowadays. See more dave s @RT68722908 09/29/2022 You Can't Cheat an Honest Man has some great bits from W.C. Fields, including the fantastic ping pong scene, but too often veers away from what Fields did best – humorous wordplay. The story is simplistic (Fields plays Larson E. Whipsnade, the owner of a circus who's trying to keep the business afloat while evading the law) and that's fine. Things tend to slide, however, with the introduction of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his sidekick Charlie McCarthy, who provide nothing in the way of comedy, take screen time away from Fields, and serve as proof that ventriloquism has come a long way since 1939. The best way to watch this would be to fast-forward through the Bergen/McCarthy bits and enjoy a short film starring the great W.C. Fields. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader 05/05/2019 The best comedy movie ever made! See more 03/31/2019 Not many 80 year old comedies hold up as well as this one and few comedies ever are as rich with dialog. No comedian loved words more than Fields. Witness his use of the words perspicacity and cynosure in his jokes. Fields rambling incoherent songs or stories at the edge of the scene while other dialog is going on is comedy gold. See more john l @RT00038422 04/09/2017 Not his best, but among his better films. Teaming with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy in a feature film was an excellent move. It takes some of the comedic burden off of Fields and provides a little more variety. The banter between Fields and McCarthy's irascible character is priceless. It gives a glimpse at why their running feud trading quips and insults on the Chase and Sanborn Hour radio program during the 1930's and 1940's was so popular. The two were a magnificent match for trading one-liners, and Bergen's comedic timing, like Fields', was superb. See more 04/01/2016 Fields is a happy victim See more Read all reviews

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man

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